Thermostatic-controlled heating system for water-cooled engines



J. H, ERMATINGER THERMOSTATIC CONTROLLED HEATING SYSTEM FOR WATER COOLEDENGINES Filed August 1, 1924 ter cooling systems of engines, embodyingPatented Jan. 4, 1927 j j UNIT-ED s'r rss PAT NT FFICE.

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' This invention relates to improvements in. means for maintaining theliquid in water cooled internal combustion engines at a suf- 'tem forraisin the temperature of ,the wa-u ter in the coo ing system when theatmospheric temperature is. low enough to chill.

the water in the cooling system determined temperature. 1

A further object of this invention is the provision of a heatingarrangement for wabelow a PI'B? novel means for automaticall regulatingfuel for the heating system, an novel'means for igniting the same. I Afurther ob'ect of this invention is the provision of at ermostaticcontrol arrangement for the automatic regulation of fuel v and theigniting thereof.

-. responding parts throughout the several views.

Other objects and advantages of this inyention will be ap arent duringthe course of the following etailed description.

- In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate cor Figure 1 is afragmentary View, partly in cross section, of anautomotive vehicle,showing thepower plant thereof, and the relation of the details of theimproyed heating system thereto.

view taken through the improved thermo-- Figure 2 is a fragmentary crosssectional static control means, which is associated with the heatingsystem in' order to control flow of fuel to the heating system and theignition thereof, in an automatic I'nanIier.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional] view taken through the heaterunit of this invention. j

Figure 4 is a fragmentarycross sectional view taken through a'portion ofa thermostat, showing the manner in which the same is connected in theregular circulating system of a water cooled engine, whereby the"thermostat may be controlled "by the tem the cooling radiator 11 withand conduitmeans 15 connecting the pump tions of the latter. Thecirculation of whiter derstood; the pump through the conduit 15 into thewater jackets and then upwardly to the line 12 into 2 3 Application MAugust 1,1924. Serial No. 728,542.

perature of the water'in the water cooled internal combustion enginesystem. Figur 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in crosssection, showing aresistance igniting unit employed in this invention. In the drawing,wherein for the purpose of'illustration is shown only a referredembodiment of the invention the etter'A-may generally designate anautomotive vehicle, which may include ail internal'combustion engine Bhaving the cooling system C of.

any

preferred construction associated there with, and which is preferably ofthe pump operated water cooling'type. The improved heating system D hasassociated therewith thethermostatic control arrangement E in order toregulate the efliciency-of theheating system D to accomplish raisin ofthe temperature of the water in the coo tom of the engine B when thiswater has dropped beyond a predetermined tempera- .ture. I Referring tothe internal combustion .engme B, the same may be of any approved type,including the water jackets 10;. radiator 11; conduit means 12 leadingfrom the '.top of the water jackets 10 to the top of the radiator 11; acirculating I pump 13; conduit means 14 connecting the ower portion. of.the pump 13;

with the water jackets 10 at the lower in the cooling system will, ofcourse, be un- 13 passing the water the radiator 11, and as the water iscooled it drops into the line 14 and is drawn by the V ump and forcedthrough the water'jackets.

'Ihe thermo-si honic system is practically the same as ah caption thatnopum this invention may with such a system.

13 is provided, and

e used in connection ove described, with the ex.- f

The heating system D preferably embodies a heating unit 20; and fuelsupply means g1,v

The unit 20 ti'ally cylindrical shaped casing 22, within which lower andupper headers 25 and 26 referably includes a substan- I 7 ms resectively are provided,"which may be cylin rical in formation.

27, 28 and 29 are preferabl provided connected at their lower en s tothe duel header 25 and at their upperends to the Between these headers25 and 26 three spirallywound coils ing system C, between the I 15 upperheader 26. VA pipe line 30 referably connects with the lower portion thelower header 25, and extends laterally through the housing 22 andconnects in the pipe 14 between the pump 13 and the radiator 11, for thepassage of water from this point in the cooling system through the line30 into the header 25-and thence upward through the.

coils 27,28 and 29 into The upper header ing the upper header 26.

conduit or pipe '34 connected therein, which leads laterally throughthey housing 22, and connects in the line 15 of the coolpump 13 and theengine jacket this line 34 having connection in the pipe or conduit bymeans of end of a cylindrical she 38. Between the pressure regulator 49and a T-coupling 36.

."A novel type of burner '38 is preferably placed in the lower portionof the housing 22, in the compartment 39 of said housing, andimmediately below the lower header 25; this-burner 38 including aperforate top surface 40 having a lateral recess or groove 41 thereinadapted toreceive an ignition unit.

This burner 38 has a conduit or fuel line42v leading therefrom andrearwardly of the automotive vehicle A, and has detachable connection,as by a coupling 44, with the nozzle (1 fuel tank 45, which may besupported, elowthe floor 46 of the automotive vehicle, as by means ofdetachable clamping straps 47. The fuel tank preferably containsmanufactured gas un-' der pressure, and a pressure regulator 49 ispreferably disposed some place in the fuel line or conduit-42 betweenthe fuel tank 45 and the burner 38, for the purpose of re ducing thepressure as it is fed to the burner the fuel tank 45, a conduit 52 isconnected by a T-coupling 58, in the line 42, and this conduit 52extends upwardly to the dash 55 of the vehicle, and has connection witha pressure gage 56 located on "said dash, by

means of which the operator may determine the pressure of the gas in thefuel tank 415,

to determine whether the same should be renewed. 1

Referring to the improvd thermostatic.

control arrangement E for regulating the flow of fuel through the line42 to the burner I 38, and for regulating the ignition of this 'fuel atthe burner 38, the same includes a substantially cylindrical shapedhousing 60, provided with an expansible thermostat 61 therein. whichcomprises the bellows shaped expansible casing 62 with the expansibleliquid 63 hermetically sealed therein. .The'top wall 64 of theexpansible casin'gf62 is fixed with the top wall 65 of the casing 60,and aflexible conduit 66 communicates with the compartment in thebellows 62, and has a" ortion of the expansible liquid 63 there? in. Theflexible tube 66 extends outwardly from the top wall 65 of the housing60, and

26' has a laterally extend-' ,ing

at its outer end is detachably connected b a couplin 68 with athermostat control bul 69. The liulb 69 is preferably connected by meansof, a plug 7 0 within a shaped coupling 71. The coupling 71 is adaptedto be connected in the line 30 leading between the heater unit and thewater cooling system line 14:, as is illustrated in Figure 1 of thedrawings, so that. the water flowing through the line 30 from the watercooling system .Will contact the bulb 69, which extends across thepassageway 7 3 through which the water flows in the casing 71,'and'regulates the temperature of the expanding fluid 63 ofthethermostat.

For controlling the-flow of fuel through the line 42 to the burner 38,it is preferred to rovide velte/arrangement 80, which inc udesthe'casing 81 having a valve seat 82 therein, upon which a valve head 83is adapted to seat in order to control the passagewa through the line42. Rigid with this va ve head 88 is a vertically disposed valve rod 84,which extends upwardly through a stufling box 85 into the calling 60 ofthe thermostatic control unit E, and this rod 84; at its upper end 87 isfixed with the lower wall 88 of the thermostat casin The rod 84 thus hasa sliding liquid an fuel leak proof connection with the valve. casing 81throu h the stufiing box 85,-and this valve rod through a partition 89formed rigi wit in the casing 60. A spiral expansion spring 90 ispreferabl disposed between the partition 89 and the ower wall of thethermostat casing 62, and which spring normally acts to unseat the valvehead 83 when the ,expansible liquid in. the thermostat casing 62 permitsof such unseatingof, the valve.

preferred to provide a resistance element 90,

tion withln t e groove 41 of the burner38; this resistance unit 90preferably bein supported in insulatedbearings 91 in or er to 84preferably extends u we dly ma As to the automatic igniting of the fuel--when flowing through the burner 38, it is Preferably a ieceof carbon,in resting relai insulate the same from the burner 38.

60,v including the terminal 95 can i connected thereto, and wh ch wire98 is part X- of the circuit93. In similar manner a 'terminal 100 iscarried by the valve stem 84.

below the'terminal 95, and so that an end of the terminal 100 willengage the outer end of the terminal 95 when the valve 84 is unseated.Of course, a wire 102 is connected with this terminal 100, and whichwire 102 i is part of the circuit 93. In order to permit lit) readymovement of the valve red the wire 102 1s coiled, as at 103, within thecasing 60.

From the foregoing description of this iniention-.,the operation of theimproved ther mostatic control heating system for water cooled engineswill be apparent; If the engine B is idle, the water in the coolingsystem C, during cold weather, will lower 1n temperature, and when acertain low temperature has been reached the efiectof the candescence,an cause the lighting of the fuel emanating from the burner 38. It is tobe particularly noted that the improved'con dint and coil arrangement ofthe heating system provides a by pass around the circulating pump 13, sothat the water flows from the circulating conduit 14 through the line 30ast the bulb 69 into the lower header 25, and as the flame from, theburner 38 heats the water in the coil v27, '28 and 29, the heated waterwill arise to the header 26, and

pass through the line 34 into the conduit 15,

and-thence into the water jacket 10. Due to thermo-siphonic action theheated water will circulate through the cooling system, by passingaround the circulating pum 13,

and the improved thermostatic control 'eating system will maintain thewater in the cooling system at a predeterminedwarrh temperature toprevent the freezing thereof.

From the foregoing description of this invention it is apparent that anabsolute 'oreventative of freezing of the cooling medium in enginecooling systems has been provided, which does away with all theineffective expedients for maintaining water in cooling systems warm,during cold Weather, such as covers, alcohol, and other preventativesmixed with the cooling fluid. The automatic thermostatic controlarrangement prevents chill of the cooling liquid, and consequently savesgas and electric current-in that starting of the vehicle is renderedvery easy.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be madeto the form of the invention herein shown and described, withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the claimsthe same to glow in in-.

I claim: 6 1. In a heating arrangement for mamtalning the cooling mediumof water cooling systems above a predetermined low tomperature thecombination of a heating unit connected in the water circulating systemfor flow of the cooling medium therethrough,

a burner, a gas drum, a conduit connecting the burner with the gas drum,a valve in said conduit, an expansible thermostat con: nected with thevalve, said ex ansible thermostat having connection wit the coolingmedium whereby to be contracted when the water in the circulating systemis dropped below a predetermined temperature in order to open the valvein said fuel line to permit flow of fuel to the burner, anelectricalresistance. unit associated with said burner, an electriccircuit for the resistance unit and a switch structure for the electriccircuit including a stationary contact and a. contact movable'with saidexpansible thermostat adaipted to engage the stationary conose saidcircuit when the fuel valve tact to 0 opens. v i

2. In a heatin system for water cooled engines the combination with awater cool- .ing system of anengine, a heating unit adapted to receivethe circulating water, i

from the cooling system, burner means associated with the heatin unitincluding a fuel supply pipe, a valve .or regulating flow of fuel in thepipe to said burner including a stem movab e with the valve,' athermostat having operating connection with the water 1 cooling systemof the engine and connected" with the stem, of the valve for operatingthe latter incident to temperature variation of the water'in the watercooling system, no

mally inoperative ignition means associated with. the burner meansincluding a circuit having a unit therein adjacent the burner forsupplying ignition to the fuel at the burner, said circuit including anormally open switch having a stationary contact and a contact movablycarried by the stem of said valve adapted to engage the stationarycontact to close the circuit-incident to operation of said thermostat. a

3. In a-device of the class described the I combination of aburner,meansfor supplying fuel to the burner including a pipe having avalve operating therein, a stem 2 connected with said valve for move nt3 therewith, an electric ignition means or igniting saidburner includinga circuit Jae having an ignition unit therein adjacent i the burner,said circuit including a switch arm carried by the stem for movementwith the stem and valve to open andv close the circuit, and thermostaticmeans connected with the stem for moving the stem incident totemperature variation.

I .-JOSEPH H. ERMATINGER.

